For the first time, India has officially recognized Nepal’s National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory (NFFRL), clearing the way for the export of select Nepali food products tested within Nepal itself.
According to Sanjiv Kumar Karna, Director General of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu received a letter from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) granting mutual recognition to the NFFRL. This marks a major milestone, as India had previously blocked imports of Nepali food products, citing quality concerns.
A team from FSSAI inspected the department’s laboratory in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Following the visit, the Indian Embassy issued a formal letter confirming the recognition of test results for 10 categories of food products. These include fats and oils, fruits and vegetables, cereal products such as rice, wheat, corn, and millet, as well as tea and coffee, milk and dairy products, honey and sweeteners, meat products, spices, processed drinking water, and dietary supplements.
“With this recognition, it will now be much easier for Nepali exporters to send food products to India,” said Karna. “Earlier, they had to send samples to labs in Indian cities like Lucknow and Kolkata, often paying up to Rs 25,000 per test. That burden is now lifted.”
Food products can now be exported to India based on quality certification, export-related certification, and batch (lot) numbers issued by Nepal’s own laboratory. This development is expected to significantly reduce time and costs for Nepali entrepreneurs involved in food exports.
India had previously urged Nepal to upgrade its lab facilities to meet international standards. In response, Nepal strengthened its testing infrastructure. The NFFRL, which earlier tested up to 284 parameters, can now handle up to 630.
Karna told New Business Age that Nepal will soon request further recognition from India for additional food categories, as the lab is now equipped to test more products in line with Indian standards.
